Find the Best Things to Do in St Lawrence/Distillery

About St Lawrence/Distillery

An area running between Lake Ontario and Front Street to the south and north, and Yonge and Cherry Streets to the west and east, St. Lawrence/Distillery is Toronto's most historic neighbourhood. Home to Canada's first parliament and Toronto's first city hall, the area is now known for dining, shopping and history.

See & Do

This neighbourhood was created by infill as the town of York (now Toronto) was built. Eventually, Toronto's first city hall was built here, in what is now the famous St. Lawrence Market. Its Market Gallery showcases Toronto's history through art and artifacts. Don't miss the gothic revival-styled St. James Cathedral, or the nearby Gooderham Building, Canada's oldest flatiron building. This is definitely the neighbourhood for history buffs!

Eat

Restaurants in this neighbourhood offer diners a mix of ambiance and gastronomic delights. Toronto culinary superstar Claudio Aprile's two restaurants are both housed in historic buildings: Colborne Lane combines molecular gastronomy with fine dining to offer inspiring multi-course menus; and Origin presents shareable dishes that draw upon cuisines from around the globe. For great wines and a small-plates menu of fresh and local dishes, head to Wine Bar. Sushi lovers should head to Hiro.

Party

Unlike other Toronto neighbourhoods, where dance clubs and live music venues bring a younger crowd seeking high-energy fun, the St. Lawrence/Distillery nightlife scene caters to a clientele that skews a bit older and more sophisticated. Several upscale pubs line Front, Wellington and Church Streets, where live bands play folk and celtic tunes. The Reservoir Lounge is a popular choice for cocktails and live jazz. And for good beer, live music and pool, visit C'est What.

Shop

As a shopping district, St. Lawrence/Distillery isn't as known as Toronto retail hotspots like Bloor-Yorkville. But you could spend most of a day exploring the car-free cobblestone streets of the Distillery District; North America's largest collection of Victorian warehouses now house clothing boutiques, home stores and food shops. Don't miss Soma, a chocolate-lovers paradise. For more food shopping, St. Lawrence Market is a must. It's considered the world's best food market for a reason!